54 Play over sleep date thingie

[sylnl]

Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title:  #54 Play over sleep date thingie
Rating: PG
Summary:  “You do know Luke isn’t here, right?”
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar

Previously on As The World Keeps Turning:

#1     #2    #3    #4    #5    #6    #7    #8    #9    #10    #11    #12    #13    #14    #15    #16    #17     #18    #19    #20  
  #21   #22    #23  #24  #25    #26   #27   #28   #29   #30   #31   #32   #33   #34   #35   #36   #37   #38   #39  #40   #41   #42   #43   #44   #45   #46   #47   #48   #49   #50   #51   #52   #53

He waited for them in the doorway and his heart plummeted. Why had they come to him? They looked miserable and what did he know about children?

“You do know Luke isn’t here, right?” he asked softly, when Faith handed him their coats and put down an overnight bag - Oh boy!

She gave him a glimpse of a smile.

“We know. But we took a vote on who we would turn to and it was unanimous. You.”

Reid was obviously confused when he hung the coats and as if he had asked out loud - why me? - Faith answered: “We needed to get away from all the drama, so that’s you.”

Ah! Reid smiled and motioned them into the living room. “Take a seat, guys. Tell me what’s going on. Without the drama, please.”

When the little ones climbed on the couch and found a spot next to Reid, Faith appointed herself as spokesperson and filled Reid in.

“After dinner, my mother came to the farm,” when she saw Reid’s surprise, she nodded. “Yeah, we were surprised about that too, because she’s still not welcome there, but I guess she found out grandma went to visit Uncle Seth for a few days and assumed she could come over. Anyway, when my father told her to leave, she went ballistic and screamed that she needed some time with us.”

Reid didn’t say a word, but just pulled the two younger kids a little bit closer. He could feel them crying and he didn’t know what to do to ease their pain. So he tried to channel his own strength into the two small bodies.

“So my father came back inside and told us, not asked us, mind you…he told us, to spend the night at my moms.” Faith’s anger and desperation was painful to watch. “And Ethan and Nat started crying, because they didn’t want to go…”

She looked at her younger sister and brother and shook her head.

“Did you know she lets Noah stay in the house? In my room, Reid! She said it didn’t feel appropriate to let Noah sleep in Luke’s room, and she’s right about that, of course. But why can’t she see it’s inappropriate to have him in our house to begin with? And in my room!”

“Noah is like a son to her,” Reid tried to be the voice of reason, but Faith wasn’t having that. None of it.

“Pffft… she has two sons. Two real ones. Maybe she should start taking better care of those two, before she’s hovering over that…nitwit.”

“No arguments here,” Reid smiled and Faith calmed down a little.

“Anyway…a lot of drama and tears and when my father went out to talk to my mom again, I packed a bag and we snuck out.”

Hold on. “Nobody knows you’re here?”

Faith shook her lowered head. “Nope.”

“That’s not okay, Faith. Not in any circumstance. How did you get here?”

“We hitched a ride… a neighbor, not a stranger. Please don’t be angry…”

For a minute he could hear Luke’s voice. “Don’t be mad.”
It made him smile at Faith.

“I’m not angry, Faith. But I am trying to look at this from both angles and your parents must be terrified by now.”

“Serves them right,” the girl grouched.

“An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind,” Reid murmured, but the quote was received with a disinterested shrug and a typical “Whatever.”

After giving her a telling raised eyebrow, Reid pulled out his phone and that movement caused some panic. Three sets of youthful eyes watched him in horror and Ethan was the one voicing his concern.

“Are you sending us back?”

Reid smiled as reassuring as he possibly could.

“Nope, you’re welcome to stay. But I am calling your father to let him know you are all safe with me.”

Somewhat relieved they all nodded and Reid made the connection.

“Reid!” Holden sounded as frightened as Reid imagined, “Please tell me they’re with you.”

“They are. They hitched a ride with a neighbor and landed on my doorstep.”

“Oh God,” he could hear Holden taking a deep breath and passing on the message to someone. “They’re okay. They’re with Reid.”

“Reid?” That was definitely Lily’s voice, “Oh, wait…yeah, it makes sense they would go to Luke…”

“Luke is in LA for a few days and the kids know that,” Holden sounded bored and turned his attention to Reid again.

“Sorry about that, Reid. What do we do now? Do you want me to pick them up?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, to be honest. They just need a little break from all the drama. If it’s okay with you, I'll let them stay over. Luke is coming home tomorrow, so I took the day off anyway…”

Holden was quiet for a moment and then sighed. “I’m sorry for burdening you with our… inadequacy.”

Reid hesitated. The polite thing to say would be something like ‘no problem’ or ‘you’re welcome’, but Reid didn’t do polite. Reid did honesty.

“I can take it. I’m more worried about the kids, though,” Reid saw Faith’s eyes light up and he smiled. She recognized a reprimand when it was given. And so did her father.

“You’re absolutely right. This has to stop.”

“I agree,” Reid replied calmly. He wasn’t judging - what did he know about raising kids? - but he wasn’t condoning either.

“Please call me tomorrow when you want me to pick them up, Reid.”

“I will. So you’re alright with them staying the night here, then?”

“Totally,” Holden firmly stated. “I trust you implicitly and my children obviously do too.”

“I’m glad,” Reid looked at the kids and gave them a telling smile, “We’ll enjoy ourselves, don’t worry. Talk to you tomorrow.”

After he put the phone down, Natalie pulled his sleeve.
“Was daddy mad?”

“No sweetie, he wasn’t. He was just happy to hear you were safe.”

Nat gave him a soppy smile. “That’s good.”

“It is,” Reid agreed, “and you know what else is good? Luke always makes sure we have lots of food in the house! Want some?”

Before Reid could stand up, Faith was on her feet.
“Do you mind if I take care of that? I need to keep busy…”

Reid gave her a nod. “Sure, go right ahead.”

“What would you like?”

“Do you know how to make popcorn?”

Faith rolled her eyes. “Duh, that’s not exactly brain surgery, is it? I’m a microwave wizard, you just wait and see.”
She turned to her siblings. “Do you guys want to see what they have or do you want me to choose for you?”

“I want popcorn,” Ethan gave Reid an infatuated smile and his little sister followed his lead. “Me too! Just like BeeBee!”

As the girl was looking up at him, Reid assumed she referred to him, but he didn’t get it. BeeBee? Who was BeeBee and why did she call him that?

“Oh yeah…that…” Faith looked a little embarrassed. “I’m afraid I’m responsible for that one. Ethan kept referring to you as his Big Brother and I shortened it to BB and it kinda caught on.”

Reid laughed out loud. “So I guess that makes you their BS, doesn’t it?”

“Good one, doc,” she actually looked impressed, “but I’m not your BS, though.”

“True. But you are full of it,” he teased and she laughed. “Can’t argue with that one,” she said cheerfully and went to the kitchen.

In no time the coffee table was filled with glasses of lemonade, big piles of popcorn and some other sweets Faith had found. It looked like a private candy store and Reid loved it.

“I’m having a Willy Wonka moment,” he grinned, while peeling off the wrapper of a chocolate bar and Faith watched his moves.

“Any golden ticket is mine.”

“Excuse me? This is my bar.”

“Johnny Depp is not on your team, though. It would be nonsensical to let you go, when he would be so much more useful to me.”

Reid grinned. He liked her.

When the two little ones slowly but surely found their way to the Land of Nod, he brought up the sleeping arrangements. Very cut and dry, where he was concerned. They had two guest bedrooms. The girls could sleep together in the one with the big bed and Ethan could have his own room. Problem solved.

Until Faith shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to be difficult or anything,” she ignored Reid’s murmured “Since when?” and continued: “but this has been a emotional evening and the one thing we always do in a crisis is stick together.”

Reid didn’t respond, but he could connect some dots immediately. It had Luke’s trademark all over it. Making sure the kids were okay. Sticking together, so he could watch over them all.

“How about that big bed of yours?” Faith had the courtesy to look shy. “All four of us would fit in there, right?”

“We might fit, but it doesn’t feel appropriate, Faith.” Reid replied calmly. “Go Google Michael Jackson and you’ll know what I mean.”

“I know his story,” Faith snorted. “And he was exonerated.”

“True, but the damage was already done. So me in bed with three minors…that’s not an option.”

Looking at the sleeping kids and the cozy living room, he had a better idea.

“We could get the mattresses in here…”

“And that would be more appropriate, because?” Faith rolled her eyes.

“Because I will be sleeping on this couch and you three on the mattresses,” Reid explained and Faith gave him a smile.

“So you are a genius after all,” she teased and Reid shrugged.

“If that’s your final verdict, I’ll take it.”

They both chuckled and Reid carefully broke free from the two little bodies on either side of him and Faith followed him into the bedroom. Feeling the weight of the mattress made her moan.

“Are you sure we can’t just…”

“I’m sure. So stop whining and let’s do this.”

She had to admit, the end result was pretty neat. Especially since the fireplace was a big bonus.

“It is a nice room,” she smiled, sitting on the mattress with her back against a chair and her sleeping siblings next to her.

Reid gave her a nod. “It is. Luke did a great job.”

“You miss him, huh?”

“I do.”

“Me too. In general I mean. Don’t get me wrong…I’m very happy he’s living with you, all happy sappy and stuff. I was starting to doubt the whole relationshit thing, to be honest. I mean, my mom and dad can’t keep it together and Luke and Noah…” she flinched. “Unbelievable. So I had some pretty bad examples. But you guys…I don’t know…it’s different.”

“Personally I don’t have much reference, but if you’re comparing us with Luke and Noah, I do understand the difference,” Reid grinned.

“So it’s really true? This is your first relationship?”

“Yep, it is.”

“Wow.”

“Wow what?” Reid started to get sleepy and yawned.

“An awesome guy like you…”

“Well, thanks sis,” Reid chuckled.

“I can tell you’re dozing off, but can I say one more thing?”

“Shoot.”

“You will make a great father.” Faith lowered herself carefully and found a good spot between Ethan and Natalie, totally unaware of the state of shock she put Reid in.

“Where’s that coming from?” Reid whispered. “Did Luke…”

“Nope, not a word. It’s just my observation after tonight. You did a great job with Ethan and Nat. And with me. Thank you for that. I wasn’t completely sure you… I mean, with Luke gone and stuff…”

“Hey…I’m your BeeBee, remember?” Reid teased with a serious undertone.

“Yeah. I like that.”

“Me too.”

***

The house was dark and aside from the crackling of the fireplace, there was no sound. He carefully closed the door and didn’t even remove his coat. He had more important things on his mind. He found his way into the bedroom and had no trouble working himself through the dark to his destination. When his fingers were looking for soft facial skin, they hit some fabric. What the…

He activated his phone and the soft glow offered enough light to show the big empty bed. No pillows, no comforters, no blankets…even the mattresses were gone. What was going on?

With his phone still on, he went into the living room and his confusion turned into an overwhelming feeling of love. Natalie, Faith and Ethan looked blissfully happy in their improvised sleep area and he knew what he’d find under the comforter on the couch. Carefully he sat on the edge of the couch, considering if he should give into the temptation of touching the sleeping face or leave him alone. Just as he decided to stand up, a hand grabbed his wrist and the comforter was raised, inviting him in.

“This is a nice surprise,” the whisper gave Luke goose bumps.

“I took an earlier flight,” he removed his coat and sweater and snuggled his way towards the man he missed so much. He smiled when he felt Reid’s arm around him, pulling him in. Even in this state of being half asleep, Reid’s touch was intense and hot.

“I’m very glad you’re back in my arms,” Reid confided.

“I can feel that,” Luke chuckled and caressed Reid’s chin. “What happened here?”

“Family crisis,” Reid whispered.

“And they turned to you…” Luke didn’t sound surprised and Reid liked that.

“They did.”

“I’m glad,” Luke smiled.

“Me too.”

Their kiss was soft, sweet and soundless and with a contented sigh, Luke nestled himself against Reid’s chest. Home!